R. Aryeh Leib, "Grandfather of Shpoli"

Tuesday Tevet 14 5703 Torah lessons: Chumash: Vay'chi, Shlishi with Rashi. Tehillim: 72-76. Tanya: This is what is called (p. 37)...in the holy Zohar. (p. 39). The Shpola Zeideh ("Grandfather of Shpola"), a disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch, was a man ...

And G-d happened upon Bil'am… (23:4) The hallmark of evil and unholiness is an attitude of 'it just happened.' Nothing is coincidental to the Jew; every event is purposeful and significant. In the words of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov: "From everything ...

This soulful melody is a dialogue between the Almighty Father and His children, the people of Israel

This triumphant tune is associated with the a Chassidic Rebbe’s self-sacrifice in saving the life of a fellow Jew. The story: It once happened that a Jew who had rented an inn from the local landlord had fallen behind in his payments and was jailed. The ...

“It is true,” announced R. Leib, “that according to the law the plaintiff must take his suit to the defendant’s locale; but since in this case ‘there is no place devoid of His presence,’ we will try the case here in Shpoli . . .”

“Wait Mendel,” the Rebbe said,“how will you know who your lawyer is?” Once a Jew named Mendel came to the tzaddik, Reb Arye Leib of Shpola asking for help. At a glance, the Rebbe could see that he was terribly upset. “Rebbe, I don’t know what to do!” the ...

“In the morning, they found the idol on the floor with its head and hands cut off.” Living in the holy land of Israel was never a picnic. In the times of King Shaul and King David, there were constant wars.Time and again, the Pelishti people attacked the ...

The wagon driver asked Reb Leib, “Please! Can you help me? I’m trying to push my heavy wagon out of the mud.” Reb Leib responded, "I'm sorry, but I am not capable of lifting such a heavy load. I simply can not.”

In the merit of giving charity, a Jew is saved in court from his adversaries.